Castle High

14. Kobayashi Maru - I

“May you all have your seats please?”

Serena said, calling the class to order. The time had come for her to give the new 10th graders something she loved to call ‘The Mrs. Mendes Special’. It was a culture deeply embedded in Castle high, ever since she became a staff in the school. But still no particular student had noticed that a consecutive task was always handed down to 10th graders in the first term of every session in the 9th week. This particular one had her thinking and preparing all night as she knew the type of class she was handling currently. This particular set was one of the best the school had produced so far.

“Guys everyone sit.”

Serena addressed the class once more and waited for them all to settle down. A red-head however on the last seat at the first row, was still on her feet.

“Miss Proyas?”

Nicole took to admonition instantly and sunk to her seat. Serena cleared her throat one final time before resuming her speech. “Now that I have your undivided attention, let’s proceed shall we? Last week, I submitted a list of assignments I wanted you to take on; and the essence of this submission was to grant you the liberty of choosing from the list at your own free will.”

Swirling around, she retraced her steps back to the table behind her – which was mounted a few inches from the middle column in the class. “And you guys decided to choose the topic concerning ways of combating hypertension, stress and anxiety. I still remember all of you expressing enthusiasm because you said and I quote, ‘It’s a fun topic’ – despite the fact that the topic has nothing to do with you since you all are 10th graders in high school and are not elderly people close to death. Yet, I didn’t withhold the permission to take that assignment because I didn’t want any excuse for not doing it. Well on the submission date – I was impressed when I arrived in school and found 20 notes on my desk, awaiting my arrival. Meaning every one in this arm, did the assignment–”

A bout of applause erupted in the room from the students, impairing Serena’s speech. “No, no, no. Do not clap for yourselves yet, I’m not done. Now, as I was saying – I found out that every one in this division did the assignment. However, when I began to go through everyone’s essay, I realized that my earlier assumption was wrong.”

An indiscernible chuckle was audible from the last row in the class, but she couldn’t discern the individual from which the laughter came from. She sensed they knew, where she was heading with her discoveries.

“Now, I know this is very typical of high school students. Believe me I know. Someone does the assignment and then the rest come to school very early, the next day to copy or someone does it during recess and everyone copies pending the next day. I know it happens, believe me I did it in high school also and every other staff too did this in high-school at some point, even if they may deny it; But there is a limit to all these things. There is a limit to everything. I gave you guys the choice of choosing something you’d be thrilled by, hoping that you would embark on its execution with enthusiasm and joy but yet some of you are just too busy to spare a little time to do my little side assignment.

I don’t think anyone here is the bread winner of their family. If I’m wrong, then let the individual get up on his/her feet or signify by waiving their hands.”

There were devilish grins plastered on the face of every single student, even Shelby who was in the front row of the second column in the class-room, was trying her best to hide her face away from Serena.

“Since we do not have any sort of work, outside school – I can’t seem to understand why a handful of you failed to do the assignment. Now, I’m not one to punish students for copying each other and the likes because I understand it’s high school tradition. But the essence of giving you the choice of choosing was that, you all could take on the assignments on your own. So, definitely I am going to punish those who are found wanting but before I proceed–”